One thing I always like is the end of season games. The last home game is an opportunity for the fans and players to congratulate one another, or indeed offer points of debate and grudging support to the team. Last night at Tynecastle the players appeared as always and wandered around the ground greeting the fans. One or two fans were able to Hi-Five individual players, while some players carried their young children around with them, dressed obviously in shirts with their dad's name on the back.
Having won the game it was an easier encounter than when the team loses, and this has not been a good season. One manager sacked, a temporary manager for two games, then the new man comes in. A few months later he too goes south. Again the temporary manager takes over and again does well.
Grumbles re the board continue, debate about the known new manager also. However, all this is put aside as the players clap the fans as they walk round. All understand the situation, all look forward with a mixture of trepidation and hope to the new season. With one more game to go and then the players depart for Malaga, the Board for somewhere more exotic, and myself for Tesco, we await the last game and the new season.
I must admit, my granddad approach meant that I enjoyed watching the kids with their dads more than anything. We rarely see the families of players, and rightly so as abuse sometimes follows them, but this allows us to remember them as human beings with all the fragility that brings. Football is important but families more important. The kids of course love the occasion even though some are too young to appreciate this. With luck, some of the boys may one day wear that very important Heart of Midlothian shirt for real! Lucky them!
